The Washington critic., 1887-02-22
AT THE THEATRES.
AInArnnl.-MnnIrsKA.

A large and fashionable audience greeted
Nine. Modieska at Albaugh's last night in
"Mafy STUART schlller's tragedy OF dlsap.
pointment, tears and dtati. Tbs play Is
too gloomy to he popular, but Modleska
clothes II In such a ubtle atmosphere Of
art that sorrow for the heroine is brgot'cn
In admiration for ths artls', and the tragedy
becomes, II not positive pie isure, at least,
enjoyable Neither the actress nor the play
is new, and so much has been said that II
Is difficult to find fresh words OF praise for
one whose subtle grace and Intangible
beauty have well nigh exhausted our de-
scriptlye vocabulary. AS to her support,
animate and inanimatc, we may say that
while 1t is good, II is not good enough.
Such an actress as Modieska should put her
plays In the midst Of scenery like that with
which Irving and Barrett surround their
plays. OF the cast, Mr.. Barrymore, OF
course, leads, as he has the right to- yet
there Is a selfconsclousness In his acting,
the absence Of which In his subordlnstes
brings them nearer his standard. The
Elizabeth OF Mary Shaw was excellently
well done, and will stand the test of criti-
cism. Joan Hayes as Hannah was also
good. The other members of the company
met the requirements OF their parts fairly,
Tonight Shakspeare's comedy, "Twelith
Night" with Modjeska as Viola.
NATioSAL-"A TnrP TO AFRICA"
A full house, at the National, last night,
took "a Trip to Africa" with the Duff
Opera Company, and had pretty fair
amount OF fun on the excursion. There
may be ADLER operas than this, no doubt
are, but you seldom see one that is more
beautifully staged, and that contains as
many pretty women to the square foot OF
flooring. II was Miss Lillian Russelrs first
appearance here, and, as Ihdnid, she was
as handsome as-as-as-well, as Lillian
Russell. That's the supcrlntiyc degree OF
beauty, you KNOWN New York. Nernona
Jutbeaii, as TCssd, Is a daisy, aud Zelda
SeguiD, 8s Eucclpcitd, while not the Siejci
Of lam SINE, is still charming. Mr.. Ryley,
as Fd.tIf Inshd; Mr. llilliard, as in'drSid'
Mr.. Duugan, ss MTadMJ aud everybody
else In the part assigned, did quite as that
other Riley did, who kept hotel. The
singing, which is a feature in the opera we
have overlooked up to this point, was good,
both by principals and chorus, the voices
probably being better than the music to
which they gave expression. The scenery
was something to 90 home aud dream about,
and the chorus girls were pretty enough to
make a bald heads hair run cold. Again
tonight
THE BIjOU -"TAkEN FROM LtFE.'
Harris Bijou Theatre was crowded again
last might to see Phosa McAllister and her
company In "'Tnken from i.ife.n The play
is one of thrilling interest, which never
lSgs until the happy end, Miss Plosl Me.
Allister US kdtc D1iby won The sympathy OF
the audience at once, and was well sup
ported. The stage setting is unusually
fine, and many Of the scenes, particularly
L. tb,fllg,u1, rauliattp la
tonight.
DIME MUsEUM-THE DERvlILE FAMILY.
A full and delighted audience witnessed
last night at Barton & Logan's Museum
one of the most attractive and elegant per-
formances gwen there this season. The
variety is excellent. The finish OF the olio
by The Derville family is alone worth the
price Of admission, especially the little
Baly D,rville, who caught everybody in
the house.
KERNAN's-AusTRAL1ASN NOVELTY COMPANY.
The welcome given Austin's Australian
Novelty Company was packed house such
as Kernan's Theatre has seldom known.
Hundreds were turned away, while ut least
as many more stood patiently throughout
the entire performance. A frst-class va
riety show will always draw well In Wash
ipgton, and the trump card Mr.. Herman has
this week will I'll his cosy theatre at every
performance. The entire company is good
but Charley Ellis and Sharpley aud West
are worthy OF particular mention. Annie
Hart is taking, and had the faculty OF
'catching on" last night with vim. The
feature OF the performance, however, was
the work Of the Austin sisters. Mile
Aimee is u trained athlete, and her flying
trapeze performance has never been sur
passed The afterpiece, "Hot Rolls" by
Frank Vim, is unusually clever, aud kept
every one in a roar OF laughter.